10 LC
94 2544
House
Resolution 1569
By:
Representative Greene of the
149th
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
and commending Early County 2055 and the Birdsong Peanut Company; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
in the spring of 2006, the Charles and Catherine B. Rice Foundation provided a
generous grant to the people of Blakely and Early County for use in creating and
funding a 50-year economic revitalization project for Early County;
and
WHEREAS,
named Early County 2055, nearly 1,000 Early County citizens joined forces to
help shape the 50-year vision for the grant; and
WHEREAS,
the Early County 2055 plan calls for a vast array of bold initiatives which
includes stimulating economic development through job creation, enhancement of
cultural amenities, removal of dilapidated structures, and development of a
housing workforce; and
WHEREAS,
after the devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, Early County
2055's Executive Director C. Barton Rice, Jr., initiated the Peanut Butter for
Haiti program by challenging Early County 2055's Director of Economic
Development Lisa Collins to find matching funds for $5,000 he was willing to
donate to send peanut butter to Haiti; and
WHEREAS,
the first $5,000 match was made by the Birdsong Peanut Company, a Virginia-based
peanut shelling company with a location in Blakely, Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
by joining forces for Peanut Butter for Haiti, Early County 2055 and the
Birdsong Peanut Company have raised over $392,000 in cash and in-kind donations
for the purchase of peanut butter and peanut products to be distributed to
victims of the Haitian earthquake; and
WHEREAS,
to date, seven truckloads with 246,362 pounds of peanut products have been
shipped to Haiti, providing approximately 3.5 million servings of peanut butter
to earthquake survivors; and
WHEREAS,
the selfless service by Early County 2055 and the Birdsong Peanut Company to the
nation of Haiti and the survivors of one of the most catastrophic natural
disasters in the history of the Western World stands as a true example of
compassionate humanitarianism and is worthy of recognition.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body commend Early County 2055 and the Birdsong Peanut Company for their
incredible partnership to provide peanut butter to the hungry victims of the
Haitian earthquake and extend the utmost thanks for their altruistic service to
the people of Haiti.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to Early County
2055 and the Birdsong Peanut Company.